IPFA may sponsor NFL from next yearMumbai, December 6: The Indian Premier Football Association (IPFA) will most likely sponsor the entire National Football League (NFL) from next year, its president Vijay Mallya announced here on Wednesday.Mallya told newsmen that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has made this offer and IPFA members will have to contribute to the total budget of Rs ten crore which is quite likely.Mallya expressed his full satisfaction with the compromise reached between IPFA and AIFF in a ``win-win'' position for both.He said IPFA will now go further and construct under-19 teams as feeding route and organise tournaments for that group. The United Breweries sponsored Mohan Bagan and East Bengal will also put up women's football teams in the Calcutta's IFA League, he added.He said now there are no hassles with AIFF and in any way IPFA was never a parallel body.``We are spending crores of rupees in preparing the teams for NFL and in return neither the game, the players nor the clubs were getting any mileage, which now, with IPFA representation in the organising body, will be sponsor-friendly and spectator-friendly'', he said.He also informed that IPFA was ready to take charge of Federation Cup, not held for last two years, also.Mallya was also determine to give clubs a share of players transfer fee if it takes place during the contract.He hoped that his association in future gets enough encouragement to establish football academies like the Tatas have done. It (Tatas) has been a nursery of the game, he praised.NFL draw announcedNEW DELHI: The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday announced the draws for the league which is slated to commence from December 14.As per the draws released by Alberto Colaco, chairman National Football League (NFL) committee here, the first day (November 14) matches would be held simultaneously at Delhi, Goa and Bangalore. However, the inaugural match would be between JCT Phagwara and Mohun Bagan here at the Ambedkar Stadium while Goan outfits Zee Churchill Brothers play against Vasco in Goa and ITI will slog it out with State Bank of Travancore in Bangalore.On December 15 Tollygunge Agragami will play against Kingfisher East Bengal Club at Calcutta and Mahindra United will play against Air India at Mumbai while Salgaocar Sports Club is pitted against FC Kochin at Goa.After three days rest, the matches would resume on December 18 where Vasco plays against FC Kochin at Goa, Tollygunge Agragami would play against Mohun Bagan and Mahindra United would be pitted against JCT Phagwara in Mumbai.The following day ITI plays against East Bengal at Bangalore while Churchill Brothers play State Bank of Travancore in Goa.On december 20, the concluding day of the first leg of the tourney Salgaocar will play against Air-India in Goa.The draw for the remaining rounds would be held at a meeting of the NFL committee. The committee would also decided on the availability of venues.
